Katsurahama
Katsurahama, A Pebble And Sand Beach In Kochi On The Pacific With A Crescent Of Pines, A Tall Statue Of The Local Hero Sakamoto Ryoma Above It And Strong Surf. For Looking At, Not Swimming, With An Aquarium And A Shrine Close By. · Kochi, Kochi
Katsurahama is the beach people in Kochi take visitors to, and it is a beach for looking at, not for swimming. A crescent of dark pebbles and coarse sand, roughly 500 m long - confirm - curves around a headland of pines on Urado Bay, facing the open Pacific. The surf is heavy, the undertow is strong and swimming is not allowed. Above the sand, on the hill, stands a tall statue of Sakamoto Ryoma, the Kochi-born samurai who helped end the shogunate, looking out to sea. A small shrine to the dragon king sits near the water, and a path leads up to the statue. The Tosa dog centre and a small aquarium are close by - confirm both. Local songs praise the moon over this beach, so many people come at dusk. The place suits families on an easy outing and anyone who already knows the Ryoma story. It takes about an hour, two with the aquarium. It is worth a bus ride from Kochi city if the sky is clear and not worth a long trip if it is raining, when the view flattens and the wind bites.
Urado, Kochi, on Urado Bay, a bus ride from Kochi Station; a statue of Sakamoto Ryoma stands above the beach, Kochi, Kochi, Japan
The beach itself is open all day and free to walk. The shrine, the aquarium and the dog centre keep their own hours, usually from morning to around 17:00 with last entry earlier, and each may close one weekday or for maintenance - confirm before you go. From Kochi Station a local bus runs to the beach in roughly 30 minutes, with fewer buses in the evening, so check the last bus back. IC cards work on some Kochi buses but carry cash for entry fees and small shops. No booking is needed for the beach; the aquarium may need an advance ticket in peak holidays.